Energy sword (fiction): Difference between revisions

|length = {{Convert|126.8|cm|in}}<ref name="essential"/>

|width = {{Convert|3.8|cm|in}}<ref name="universe"/><ref name="H4EVG"/>

|height = {{Convert|50.1|cm|in}}<ref name="universe"/><ref name="H4EVG"/>

|ammotype = Shaped [[plasma]]<ref name="universe"/>

The '''Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword''' ('''T-1 EW/S'''), commonly known as the '''energy sword'''<ref name="BungieReach">[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=ordnance&cid=25438 '''Bungie.net''' - ''Halo Reach Ordnance Guide: T1 EW/S'']</ref> or the '''plasma sword''',<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]''', ''page 15''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 2: The Official Strategy Guide]]''', ''page 30''</ref> is a traditional [[Sangheili]] close-quarters weapon.<ref name="Waypoint">[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/gallery/energy-sword/87ebf6e2-3874-4e5c-8133-b72c20a46d7f '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Energy Sword''] [defunct] [https://web.archive.org/web/20110623004723/http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/gallery/energy-sword/87ebf6e2-3874-4e5c-8133-b72c20a46d7f (backup)]</ref> The energy sword is intended to express its owner's personal skill, clerical honor, and combat viability.<ref name="universe"/>

The energy sword is the signature weapon of the [[Sangheili]] and has been their chief weapon of nobility since its creation during one of the [[Ages of Discovery]].<ref>'''[http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/ancient_tablets/Tablet4.gif The Covenant Hall of Murals]'''</ref> The Sangheili pride themselves on their skills with the weapon,<ref>'''Halo Graphic Novel''' ''page 12 - 14''</ref> which they regard as holy,<ref name="enyc127">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 127''</ref> and believe that it is better for a Sangheili to fall on his sword to redeem his honor than to die dishonorably.<ref name="enyc127"/><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''' ''page 53''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''' ''page 141''</ref> The Sangheili are very strict on who can be trained in the [[Martial arts|art of swordsmanship]]; in civilian life only [[aristocrat]]s are permitted to wield energy swords.<!-- Note that The Essential Visual Guide confirms that non-aristocratic use of the energy sword is forbidden only within civilian society. This policy is not upheld within the military.--><ref name="essential"/> Sword wielders are not eligible for marriage, though they may [[reproduction#Sangheili reproduction|breed]] with any female they choose, married or otherwise, to ensure successful transmission of "swordsman" genes.<ref name="Waypoint"/><ref>'''[[Bestiarum]]''' ''Sangheili section''</ref>

Within the [[Covenant military]], use of the energy sword is not restricted to aristocrats.<ref name="essential"/> [[Sangheili Minor]]s are generally not permitted to wield the sword because of the high regard in which it is held,<ref name="enyc127"/> though exceptions have been witnessed.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', ''introductory cinematic''</ref><ref name="Package">'''Halo Legends''', ''The Package''</ref> It is unknown whether this extends to [[Sangheili Major|Majors]], as at least one has been witnessed using an energy sword.<ref name="Package"/> [[Sangheili Storm|Storm troops]], [[Sangheili Ultra|Ultras]], [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]], [[Sangheili General|Generals]], [[Special Operations Sangheili|special operations]], [[Stealth Sangheili|stealth troops]], and [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|honor guardsmen]] commonly use energy swords.

The energy sword's design is seen as the logical evolution of an ancient lineage of traditional Sangheili weapons, most notably the twin-scythe and the [[curveblade]];<ref name="H4EVG">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 92''</ref><ref name="Waypoint"/> superficially, the twin-scythe's influence on the energy sword's design is unmistakable.<ref>'''Halo Legends''': ''The Package''</ref> Technologically, the energy sword succeeded an older type of Sangheili sword known as the [[burnblade]], which was used in the early years of the Covenant.<ref>''Halo: Broken Circle'', pg. 115</ref> Modern energy swords are manufactured by the [[Merchants of Qikost]], a prominent group of arms makers from one of [[Sanghelios]]' [[Qikost|moons]].<ref name="essential"/> The energy sword consists of a curved hilt, which houses an energy storage and generation device, as well as the blade projector; that forms a blade of superheated [[plasma]], stabilized by two small magnetic field generators built into the handle of the weapon—this forms and contains the oval shaped, ionized blades for which the weapon is recognized.<ref name="BungieReach"/> The weapon is powered by a small battery that supplies power to the plasma generation device and magnetic field generators which generate and contain the plasma needed to form the blade.<ref name="enyc">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' ''page 335''</ref> The battery's energy is reduced for each successful strike. Each strike from the sword will drain the battery by 10% of its maximum energy output. Once the battery power is fully depleted, the sword will deactivate unless recharged. The horizontal hilt forces the wielder to use a punching motion to stab rather than the thrusting motion of most knives and swords.

Mass-produced energy swords feature a roughly "W"-shaped hilt and have little variation in blade design. Specifically, some models have more rounded blades in lieu of the more common angular style. However, more drastic variations exist. For example, [[Arbiter]] [[Ripa 'Moramee]]'s matching pair of custom-designed<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 10''</ref> swords had basket-style hilt guards and radiated a high degree of ionized plasma,<ref>'''Halo Wars'''</ref> whereas most energy swords contain the blades' plasma with greater efficiency. Some Sangheili special forces units wield blood red-colored energy swords which (ironically, despite their color) burn hotter than more common models.<ref name="Waypoint"/><ref name="headH">'''Halo: Evolutions''', ''Headhunters''</ref> Arbiter [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s personal sword, the [[Prophets' Bane]], was pale salmon-colored and had a wider blade compared to mass-produced swords.<ref name="CF"/><ref name="H5G">'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'''</ref>

The '''bloodblade'''<ref name="BF">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/brute-force '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Canon Fodder: Brute Force'']</ref> is a red colored energy sword,{{Ref/Note|Sangheili blood is purple, so "bloodblade" may be a human-given name or named for the blood of humans (or Jiralhanae or San'Shyuum) killed by bearers of the swords.}} used by certain Special Operations Sangheili<ref name="universe"/><ref name="headH"/> such as the [[Silent Shadow]].<ref>'''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''', ''Hunting Party''</ref> Red-bladed energy swords are sometimes used in the UNSC's [[War Games]] simulator, for example in [[Infection]] sessions.<ref>'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'''</ref><ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/canon-fodder-3-21-15-marching-on/bbac6734-f6bb-449e-8c79-0098a02c7884/posts?page=1#post6 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Canon Fodder 3-21-15: Marching On'']</ref>

A blade with a deep blue hue and a green hilt. In War Games, this model can be swung faster than other energy swords.<ref name="H5G"/>

A blade that produces an orange-to-cyan gradient. In War Games, this variant allows the user to have [[Spartan abilities|two thruster charges]] before recharging, as well as increased jump height, longer stabilizer duration of 4.95 seconds, increased lunge distance, and a built-in [[motion tracker]] that stays visible on the user's [[Heads-up display|HUD]] even while zoomed in, much like with [[Linda-058]]'s personal [[Nornfang]] [[SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle]]. This weapon can also be found as the second [[special weapons|hidden weapon]] in the final campaign mission [[Guardians]].<ref name="H5G"/>

[[Thel 'Vadam]]'s personal energy sword with a unique handle and pale salmon coloring. In War Games, it gives the wielder an increased lunge distance (the same as the Vorpal Talon), increased movement speed, and [[active camouflage]] as long as the weapon is active.<ref name="H5G"/>    

Used in some War Games Infection matches. This model features a dull green blade that transitions to an inky black near the basket hilt. Despite its appearance, it otherwise functions like the standard Type-1 model.<ref name="H5G"/>

The Type-1 energy sword is an extremely devastating and powerful melee weapon when applied during in close-quarters combat. A single strike can even penetrate the energy shield systems, armor, and flesh of a [[SPARTAN programs|Spartan]] or a Sangheili. This is due to the design of the weapon, which utilizes ionized gas rather than traditional shaped, solid matter—because the energy sword lacks any solid material in which to hold, or impale anything, the sword does not cut or carve in the traditional sense, but rather boils anything it comes into contact with.<ref name="enyc"/> The Type-1 Energy Weapon's edge is therefore extremely volatile, being able to slice through even the toughest metals like a hot knife through butter, including ODST battle armour and the Titanium-A class plating of UNSC destroyers.<ref name="cole">'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''' ''page 84''</ref><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 72''</ref>